Apparatus for use in propagating plants.



.PATENTED JUNE 14, 1904.

, R. s. LAWRENCE. APPARATUS FOR-USE IN PROPAGATING PLANTS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 3, 1903.

N0 MODEL.

3 1202 e2 4 alqzwrevc ce UNITED STATES Patented June 14, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE,

ROBERT S. LAWRENCE, OE BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO CON- SOLIDATED INVENTORS CORPORATION, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF SOUTH DAKOTA.

APPARATUS FOR USE IN PROPAGATING PLANTS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 762,589, dated June 14, 1904.

Application filed August 3, 1903.

To alZ whom it may concern:

: growing plants, especially flowers,shrubs, and

vegetables, the development of which is receiving the attention of floriculturists.

The careful study of flowers, shrubs, and

vegetables leading to their greater develop- 2o ment and growth has proven that certain flowers and vegetables require for their growth certain foods that are not always found in the soil, and undoubtedly there are other substances within the range of chemistry that may 2 5 be cheaply produced and that will be found of great benefit in connection with plant growth. The apparatus that I am about to more fully describe will make it possible not only to apply to the roots of flowers, shrubs, and,

0 vegetables a predetermined quantity of what may be universally acknowledged to be the best food for the particular flowers and vegetables being treated, and also the apparatus may be used with great efficiency under the most favorable auspices for supplying new elements that may be discovered by experiment as tending to greater growth of plants.

In my apparatus I take advantage not only of the artificial stimulants and plant-food, but

4 also of the rays of the sun.

The figure is an elevation, partly in section, of an apparatus embodying my invention.

' My novel apparatus in the form which I have herein chosen to illustrate the same one of the best forms now known to me comprises a funnel, preferably of brass, in

which is adjustably mounted a hollow zinc ball having a neck that sustains a copper dish,

Serial No. 168,053. (No model.)

the dish in turn sustaining a sun-glass of greater or less power, according to the heat 5 desired for the copper plate and the contents of the ball. The ball has a door in which plant-food of a more or less solid nature may be introduced from time to time, as required. The funnel a, of copper, has, as shown, a 1101- low shank (0, preferably pointed at c to enter the ground easily and provided with a series of outlets a a cock a being provided to sustain liquid in the funnel until it is in condition to'be discharged into the ground through the holes in the shank, the cock being at such time open for this purpose. Preferably the interior of the funnel will be concaved to form a seat for and surround a part of the preferably circular exterior of the hollow Zinc 5 ball 5, also perforated at I) and having a door 6 through which may be inserted plant-food, the ball having coacting with it suitable screws or devices 6 by which to retain the ball in any desired adjusted position in the funnel, 7 according, it may be, to the position of the sun. The ball has a neck 5*, and to the end of the ball is secured a copper dish 0. The dish has erected upon it arms d, that sustain a support d, in which is fitted a sun-glass (Z that may be, say, four inches in diameter and one and one-half inches thick.

The size of the sun-glass and other parts of the apparatus and their relative proportions may be varied to suit the particular occasion without departing from this invention.

The plant-food to be used of whatever nature is placed in the ball through the door 12 and water or any liquid or chemical substanceused to moisten the plant-food-as, for 5 instance, ammonia or any other diluted acid may be added either by pouring the same into the ball or into the funnel, the stop-cock at such time being closed. The hollow ball and the glass will be adjusted to the position of 9 the sun so that its rays may be focused on the copper plate, the heat of which may be thus varied more or less, as required. The

liquid may be permitted to flow from the ball and funnel into the stem and escape therefrom into the ground when desired.

apparatus is not limited, it will be understood, to the reception of any particular plant food or liquid, and any foods that are now used or being experimented upon by florieulturists or those interested in the development of plants through chemistry may be used, not only known substances, but any substances that it may be desired to experiment with.

Having described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,

1. An apparatus of the class described, it comprising a funnel, a ball to contain plantfood and in communication with the funnel, a plate and a sun-glass, and means for sustaining the plate and sun-glass from the ball.

2. In apparatus of the class described, a funnel, a hollow perforated ball inclosed inl the mouth of the funnel, a plate connected with the ball, and a sun-glass, and means to sustain the glass at a distance from the plate.

3. In apparatus of the class described, a

funnel having a perforated shank, a stop-cock located between the upper end of the funnel and the perforations in the shank, a hollow perforated ball sustained in the funnel, said ball having a neck, and a metal plate secured to said neck.

4:. ln apparatus of the class described, a funnel having a perforated shank, a stop-cock located between the upper end of the funnel and the perforations in the shank, a hollow perforated ball sustained in the funnel, said ball having a neck, a metal plate secured to said neck, a sun-glass, and means to adjust the ball to place the sun-glass at the proper angle to directly receive the rays of the sun.

In testimony whereof 1 have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ROBERT S. LAWRENCE.

Witnesses:

Geo. W. GREGORY, LOUIS 0. SMITH. 

